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Kang Mun-bong

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Kang Mun-bong
Lt. Gen. Kang Mun-bong in 1954
Born(1923-10-26)October 26, 1923
South Hamgyong Province, Korea, Empire of Japan
DiedFebruary 26, 1988(1988-02-26) (aged 64)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Korean name
Hangul
강문봉
Hanja
姜文奉
Revised RomanizationGang Munbong
McCune–ReischauerKang Munbong

Kang Mun-bong (October 26, 1923 – February 26, 1988) was a South Korean military officer.

Kang takes credit for lessening the North Korean army's defenses by deflecting the army to the Honam area.[1]

He was well known and highly regarded as a hero after the Korean War.[1] However, due to corruption and conspiracy charges, he was forced to live the final days of his life in the United States.[2]

Biography

He was born October 26, 1923, in Korea during the Japanese colonial period in South Hamgyong Province, which is now part of North Korea.[2]

Korean War

In 1952, Kang became the commander of the ROK 1st Division[3] and he achieved the rank of major general during the Korean War. Was picked by President Rhee, Seungman to attend the U.S. War College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas during the Korean War with General Chung, Il Kwon. He was in charge of reforming the III Corps in 1953. Kang was then trained under the US Army X Corps. When the US X Corps pulled out, Kang and his men were in charge of defending key areas in the war. They were responsible for defending the area from the Punchbowl to the Pukhan River. General Kang then formed the Second Republic of Korean Army and became its first Commanding Officer.[3]

Trial for conspiracy

Even though Kang played a large role in the Republic of Korean Army's general staff as their chief of operations,[3] there was suspicion relating to his involvement in Kim Chang-Yong's assassination[1] and other NDC corruption charges. Kang was put on trial in Taegu, where he was found guilty and sentenced to death.[3] However, this sentence was changed due to his success and influence in the Korean War.[1] He was released from prison in 1960, after the April Revolution.[3] Kang never confessed to participating in the assassination of Kim Chang-Yong, regardless of the court's decision.[1]

Move to the United States

After his release from prison, Kang moved to the United States and attended George Washington University for a few years.[1]

While serving his life sentence, he wrote a book about his life called A Study on the top Korean military leadership during the Korean War which was then published in Seoul in 1983. This contains the most information about his life, but it was not widely circulated.[2]

Kang died February 26, 1988, in Los Angeles, CA.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Wisdom of Korea". ysfine.com. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  2. ^ a b c Yup, Paik Sun (1983). 전시 한국군 주요 지휘관의 통솔에 관한 연구 [Chŏnsi Han'gukkun chuyo chihwigwan ŭi tʻongsol e kwanhan yŏnʼgu / A Study on the top Korean military leadership during the Korean War]. Seoul. ISBN 9781597974837. OCLC 21342043.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Paik, Sun-yup (2011-09-01). From Pusan to Panmunjom. Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN 9781597974837.
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